The Wikimedia projects have an international scope, and the Wikimedia movement has already made a significant impact throughout the world. To continue this success on an organizational level, Wikimedia is building an international network of associated organizations. There are currently Wikimedia chapters in 21 countries.

Local chapters are self-dependent organizations that share the goals of the Wikimedia Foundation and support them within a specified geographical region. They support the Wikimedia Foundation, the Wikimedia community and the Wikimedia projects in different ways - by collecting donations, organizing local events and projects and spreading the word of Wikimedia and Free Culture. They also provide the volunteer community and potential partners and supporters with a point of contact capable of fulfilling specific local needs.

If you have questions about local chapters or want to start one in your country, please don't hesitate to contact the Chapters committee.

Please note that the local chapters are independent associations with no legal control of or responsibility for the websites of the Wikimedia Foundation and vice versa.

Chapters participating in the 2008/2009 Annual Campaign

The following chapters have agreed to participate in the 2008/2009 Annual Campaign. This means that the chapters will invest 50% of the revenue raised during the course of the fundraiser in activities agreed upon with the Wikimedia Foundation, and 50% in local program activities. So, for example, if a chapter raises USD 50,000, it could spend USD 25,000 on servers for our European data-center, and USD 25,000 on local activities such as outreach events, contests, content partnerships, etc.

Chapters participating in the campaign have also agreed to submit weekly activity reports to the Wikimedia Foundation, and to follow generally established accounting practices.

Austria: Wikimedia Österreich

Wikimedia Österreich was founded in February 2008. Official website: www.wikimedia.at

France: Wikimédia France

Germany: Wikimedia Deutschland

Wikimedia Deutschland – Gesellschaft zur Förderung Freien Wissens e.V. (Wikimedia Germany - society for the promotion of free knowledge) was founded on 13 June 2004 in Berlin as Wikimedia's first local chapter. At the end of 2006 the membership association counted more than 300 members. Among other activities Wikimedia Deutschland initiated several important partnerships, for example with Directmedia Publishing, the publisher of the German Wikipedia-DVD, and the Deutsche Bibliothek (German national library). Donations to Wikimedia Deutschland are tax-deductible in Germany. More information on the official website: www.wikimedia.de

Hungary: Wikimédia Magyarország

Wikimédia Magyarország Egyesület was founded in September 2008 with the aim of pursuing the mission of the Wikimedia Foundation as an association of public benefit. More information on the official website: wiki.media.hu

Israel: Wikimedia Israel

Wikimedia Israel (Hebrew: ויקימדיה-ישראל, Arabic: ويكيمديا إسرائيل) is the Israeli chapter of the Wikimedia Foundation. It was officially registered on 26 June 2007, after an organizing process that began on 15 December 2006, when the idea was brought before the local Wikimedian community in one of its conferences. Official website in Hebrew, Arabic and English: il.wikimedia.org

Netherlands: Wikimedia Nederland

Vereniging Wikimedia Nederland is the Dutch chapter of the Wikimedia Foundation. It was founded on 27 March 2006 in Eindhoven. Official website: nl.wikmedia.org

Switzerland: Wikimedia CH

Wikimedia CH - Verein zur Förderung Freien Wissens is the Swiss Chapter of the Wikimedia Foundation. It was established in Olten on 14 May 2006. Wikimedia CH allows tax exempted donations
to the Wikimedia Movement in Switzerland. Official website: www.wikimedia.ch

Other chapters

Please see the list of chapters for a complete directory of Wikimedia chapter organizations. Please note that donations to these chapters may in some cases be used exclusively for local program activities.